Every weekend we go to E. Leclerc and every weekend I wander the same aisles over and over again looking for things that may have changed in price or position.
On Saturdays there are women who give out free samples of products on sale - pistachios, cookies, tea. Today in the tea and coffee and coffee aisle there was a stand for instant cappuccinos because there was a promotion offering 1 euro off to people who bought 2 packages. After about 2 minutes of looking at the cappuccino products, the woman whose job it was to offer samples came back from talking at the end of the aisle with a coworker and said "Bonjour."
At first I didn't think this was directed at me after having been to E. Leclerc for the past 5 weekends and never having once been approached by a saleswoman but I looked up anyway and made eye contact. Realizing I was the object of the welcome, I said "bonjour" back and soon was being handed a sample of instant cappuccino in a cute plastic cup as Darryl's was being prepared. The woman moved past the cappuccino and asked me why we were visiting Nantes, taking care not to speak too fast or use difficult words. I was touched and told her we were international students and wanted to learn French. I've learned that this phrase carries a lot of meaning for the French and can immediately make them more welcoming - it worked with the woman. She smiled and began telling us to buy 2 smaller packages of instant cappuccino because it was more economical than buying 2 bigger boxes and would give us the same amount of servings. She also gave us 2 more of the plastic glasses and 2 more samples to take with us, telling us to hide them in our personal bags and giving us a wink before we went on our way.
During our conversation the woman asked us whether Darryl and I were English, Irish, Scottish, or German. I've gotten asked if I'm English a lot while I've been here but hardly ever American. This always makes me smile and at the same time makes me sad.
I love feeling like I'm not a stereotypical American in their eyes but at the same time never being given this label makes me feel as if I am walking around without a country. It's bittersweet.
On Saturdays there are women who give out free samples of products on sale - pistachios, cookies, tea. Today in the tea and coffee and coffee aisle there was a stand for instant cappuccinos because there was a promotion offering 1 euro off to people who bought 2 packages. After about 2 minutes of looking at the cappuccino products, the woman whose job it was to offer samples came back from talking at the end of the aisle with a coworker and said "Bonjour."
At first I didn't think this was directed at me after having been to E. Leclerc for the past 5 weekends and never having once been approached by a saleswoman but I looked up anyway and made eye contact. Realizing I was the object of the welcome, I said "bonjour" back and soon was being handed a sample of instant cappuccino in a cute plastic cup as Darryl's was being prepared. The woman moved past the cappuccino and asked me why we were visiting Nantes, taking care not to speak too fast or use difficult words. I was touched and told her we were international students and wanted to learn French. I've learned that this phrase carries a lot of meaning for the French and can immediately make them more welcoming - it worked with the woman. She smiled and began telling us to buy 2 smaller packages of instant cappuccino because it was more economical than buying 2 bigger boxes and would give us the same amount of servings. She also gave us 2 more of the plastic glasses and 2 more samples to take with us, telling us to hide them in our personal bags and giving us a wink before we went on our way.
* * *
During our conversation the woman asked us whether Darryl and I were English, Irish, Scottish, or German. I've gotten asked if I'm English a lot while I've been here but hardly ever American. This always makes me smile and at the same time makes me sad.
I love feeling like I'm not a stereotypical American in their eyes but at the same time never being given this label makes me feel as if I am walking around without a country. It's bittersweet.
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